I think Davidson guard Stephen Curry has the best all-around game in college basketball, and is a great player to watch if you want to learn the fundamentals.

Curry broke onto the national scene during last year's NCAA Tournament, where he almost single-handedly led Davidson past the likes of Gonzaga and Georgetown to the Final Four, where it lost by two points to eventual champion Kansas.

He is one of the game's best shooters, and his range extends well beyond the NBA three-point line. With Davidson's point guard of a year ago gone, Curry has moved to that position from off-guard, where the focus of the offense was to get him open jump shots.

The point guard's prime role is to run the offense, and Curry has made this transition well. In the game against West Virginia he had 10 assists, many on great passes. He also handles the ball very well, and is a great foul shooter, so the ball is in his hand a lot at the end of games when Davidson has the lead.

Curry is also a very good defender. He is quick and moves his feet well, and the players he guards have to work hard to score.

His real strengths, though, are shooting, and working to create his shot. This year he's averaging 30 points a game despite constantly being double teamed, a tribute to his finding a way to get open.

This is especially true with the game on the line, which is when Curry really excels. In the game against West Virginia Curry didn't shoot well until the final few minutes, when he scored 12 points against constant pressure to lead Davidson to the victory.

To put it simply, Curry is one player I'll rearrange my plans to watch play. He does things the right way, is very fundamentally sound, and makes those players around him better. As they used to say about NBC's Thursday night television lineup, he is must-see TV for true basketball fans.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

One of the most popular cheers at Penn State home football games is when half the stadium yell "I say JoePa," followed by the other half saying "You Say Terno." Nittany Lion fans have had a lot of practice with this over the years, as Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is completing his 43rd season at the helm.

I think it's safe to say that no major college football program will ever again have a head coach for more than 40 years. Despite being 82, Paterno is showing no signs of slowing down. He's led Penn State to an 11-1 record this season, and a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Although Paterno underwent hip replacement surgery this week, he vows to run out of the tunnel with his players before the first game next season, and I wouldn't bet against him. As a Penn State graduate and fan, and someone who got to know Paterno as a reporter in the mid 1980s, I'm continually amazed he's able to keep it going both on and off the field. His teams have been very successful, and his teams are always near the top in terms of gruduation percentage, a rare combination these days.

Whether he coaches for one, three or five more years, he will be nearly impossible to replace, and will be truly appreciated once he retires. My guess is that Beaver Stadium will someday be renamed for the feisty Paterno, who taught me several life lessons while covering the team for the Penn State student newspaper.

There will never be another coach like him.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:51 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

When Barack Obama won the presidential election on Wednesday night, that meant, among other things, that come January 20, 2009 the new presidential sport will be basketball.

I, for one, think that is a good thing.

I play basketball with a group of guys my age on Wednesday nights, and it's one of the highlights of my week. The reasons I enjoy hoops are many, but here are a few:

• It gets my competitive juices flowing, as you need to win to play the next game.
• To be successful you need to work together/function as a team.
• It's a great workout.
• It takes my mind off of whatever else I was thinking about before stepping onto the court.

I suspect Obama likes basketball for some of these reasons, and others as well. Given the pressure and demands of the presidency, an activity like basketball can help him stay relaxed and sharp both on and off the court.

And if he's ever looking for another player for a pickup game, I'm just a few miles away.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

ESPN's Jon Miller has been my favorite baseball announcer for years, dating back to his time as the voice of the Baltimore Orioles before joining ESPN.

Miller is also calling the World Series on ESPN Radio, and he's reason enough for me to listen to the games. Miller is one of the rare announcers who makes the game come to life, and he sets the scene so well that it almost feels as though you are there.

Baseball, with its slow pace and plenty of time between pitches, is a sport that lends itself very well to radio, and for my money, no one is more fun to listen to than Miller.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

As a parent of two children interested in sports, so much of what we sports parents do is centered around our children and their activities. This is as it should be, but it's also important to attend to your sporting interests.

Most Wednesdays during the school year I play basketball with a group of similarly aged men, which is one of the high points of my week. I have always loved playing basketball, and have played on and off since middle school.

Wednesday night hoops is about me. It's very competitive, and a chance for me to test my skills against others. I often head home thinking about what I can work on to improve my game, and I'm just glad to have the opportunity to play on a regular basis.

I think it makes me a better sports parent, but more importantly, it fills my need for competition, and to be a part of a team.  I can't wait for next Wednesday.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:25 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I am a very big Penn State football fan. I not only went to school there in a five-year span in which the Nittany Lions won their first two national titles, but I also covered the team as a reporter for the Penn State student newspaper, the Daily Collegian.

A few years ago I took my kids to see Penn State's spring football scrimmage, but they had never been to a regular season game.

This was the year that was going to change. We picked yesterday's game against Temple, were able to get nine tickets for other members of my extended family, and we rented a 12-passenger van for the 4-hour trip to State College, Pennsylvania.

The weather was perfect -- 70 and sunny -- and we parked on one of the vast grass parking areas surrounding Beaver Stadium, arriving moments before the noon kickoff. The kids were amazed at the vastness of it all -- more than 40,000 cars, RVs and all other types of vehicles, many of which had something showcasing the owners' Penn State spirit in what was a sea of blue and white. The same could be said for the clothes, as almost everyone, except for the few Temple fans, were wearing someting with blue and white.

Walking up the tunnel to our seats was something my kids will always remember. There they were, in the middle of more than 107,000 fans, who were doing the wave, waving pom-poms and generally rooting on the home team. The kids wore their Penn State football jersies for the occasion, and they quickly became an active part of the crowd, cheering all positive Nittany Lion plays, while always keeping an eye out for Penn State's Nittany Lion mascot.

The game was very one-sided -- Penn State won, 45-3 -- but the kids enjoyed the game and the surroundings very much. They also were very interested in our 3-hour postgame tailgate, which ended just about the time the sun went down on what was a very memorable day for my family.

This was one of those outings I had thought about a lot, and that really lived up to my expectations. I'm hoping it becomes an annual event. Now to teach them the words to the fight song ...

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 07:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Much has been written in recent years, or since Tiger Woods turned professional, how golf's popularity has risen while tennis's has fallen. Sunday's classic Wimbledon men's singles final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, considered by many to be one of the best tennis matches of all time, may help to get more people back on the court.

Nadal knocked off Federer, who had won the last five Wimbledon men's singles titles, in five sets, and more than four hours on the court. Both players were at the top of their games, hitting one amazing shot after another to win points that few other players could have contested.

Add the fact that the Williams sisters -- Venus and Serena -- dominated the women's singles competition to meet in the finals, and you had a great two days of top-notch tennis.

Like golf, tennis is a sport most people can play for a lifetime, but unlike golf, tennis is rather inexpensive, and also is much better exercise, especially at a time when most golfers opt for carts instead of walking.

It's true that Woods has singlehandedly increased golf's popularity, both in terms of numbers of players and TV ratings, and that isn't likely to change because of one great tennis tournament. What the Wimbledon performances did, though, is showcase how exciting this sport can be, and give our kids role models to look up to. It also made tennis look cool, which doesn't hurt either.

My kids watched much of the Federer-Nadal final and were very interested in taking tennis lessons this week. For my part, I play tennis with a friend on a regular basis, and watching this match has motivated me to work on my game ... much like how I feel about my golf game after watching Tiger.

Take advantage of this focus on tennis to expose your kids to the sport; it could be the start of something they'll enjoy for years to come. 

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:28 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

When I think of Father's Day, I think of the many things I've done with my dad over the years, many of which are sports related.

As a kid, my dad and I spent countless hours throwing baseball and football, kicking field goals, hitting golf balls, bowling and much more. He taught me how to do all these things, and we also watched a lot of sports together as well, both in person and on TV.

Dad and I still play golf several times a year and plan other sports-related events as a reason to get together (we live 350 miles apart). Future plans include going to Tiger Woods' golf tournament in the Washington D.C.-area in early July and to a Penn State football game in the fall.

My dad is the reason I enjoy sports so much, and I find myself thinking of him and all the fun we've had together while watching the U.S. Open golf tournament, which always ends on Father's Day.

I've tried hard to recreate these father-child memories with my two kids, with some success. We've tried all kinds of sports and ourdoor activities, I've coached some of their teams, and we've gone to a lot of games at the University of Maryland, which is just down the road from our house.

Sports is a great way to spend time with family and friends. We've had a few instances recently where my dad, my kids and I have thrown the football or played catch. To my mind, it doesn't get any better than that -- a flashback to the past and a look ahead to the future.

Dad, thanks for the memories. I look forward to our creating many more.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

As coach of a youth softball team, the first game of the year is always somewhat of an unknown. Add the fact that the girls are 8 and 9 and just learning the game adds to the uncertainty.

Another key thing to establish during the first game is communicating clearly with parents the way they can help. On our team those duties range from catcher, base coaches, safety parent, snack parent and a parent in charge of the lineup.

I knew it was a good sign when my daughter awoke at 7, two hours before our game, got dressed in her uniform and asked when we would leave. Things got better from there.

The team parents were great, very willing to do whatever I asked, and the players all had fun. Many of the girls knew each other, which helped, but they worked well together and did not play like it was their first game.

As coach it was fun to see them have some success and enjoy themselves. At this age, that's what it's all about, and the parents were very supportive. It was a good day, and made me realize why I like coaching so much.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

A few months before turning 40, I decided I wanted to celebrate my birthday with friends by organizing a day of sports I called the "Ultimate Sports Day."

Today is the fifth anniversary of USD, and it's something I really look forward to. Over the years the events have included running, golf, basketball and bowling, but what makes it special is doing things I like with good friends.

This idea works for people of any age. My kids have expressed interest in an Ultimate Sports Day for Kids with their friends, which is something we'll do at some point this summer. The great thing about this is it emphasizes the fun associated with sports and being active, something that's very important for all of us, but especially for kids.

Consider setting up an Ultimate Sports Day of your own. It's easy to arrange, and certainly worth the effort. My guess is that your kids, friends and others you include will look forward to it, and may even offer activity suggestions for future USDs. In short, you may find it hard to stop after one. 

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:45 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Every year there seems to be a mid-major team that wins several games that proves virtually impossible not to root for in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. This year it was Davidson.

Davidson entered March Madness as a No. 10 seed, but went on to upset No. 7 Gonzaga, No. 2 Georgetown and No. 3 Wisconsin before losing to No. 1 seed Kansas by a mere two points.

Sophomore guard Stephen Curry proved that he's one of the nation's best players, scoring 25 or more points in all four games, with a high of 40. Although far from a one-man team, Curry seemed to hit all the big shots when Davidson needed one, despite intense pressure from some of the best defensive teams in the country.

Although I picked Kansas in my bracket to win it all, I was pulling for Davidson to knock off the Jayhawks and make it to the Final Four. Cinderella stories are what March Madness is all about, and Davidson made the first two weeks of this year's tournament especially enjoyable to me.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 07:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Few people thought the New York Giants had a chance to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Patriots entered the game as 12-point favorites with an 18-0 record and the chance to become the first NFL team to finish the year 19-0. New England also had beaten the Giants on the road in the regular season finale, and was a perfect 3-0 in Super Bowls with quarterback Tom Brady leading the offense.

The Giants, though, led by an outstanding defensive effort that held the Patriots to their lowest point total of the year and the play of much-criticized quarterback Eli Manning, pulled off the 17-14 upset.

It was a total team effort. The New York defense kept constant pressure on Brady, who often had little time to throw and had a subpar game by his standards as a result. The Giants offense, meanwhile, was led by Manning, who directed two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including an 83-yarder capped off with a scoring pass to Plaxico Burress with less than a minute to play, to provide the margin of victory.

I was rooting for New England to make history by completing an undefeated season when the game began, but by halftime I was pulling for New York. The Giants, considered big underdogs by virtually everyone but themselves, made the big plays when they mattered most, and seemed to be the team of destiny.

It was fun to watch.    

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 11:04 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

When the Boston Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join their own superstar, Paul Pierce, during the offseason, among of the most-asked questions were how well would these three players share the basketball and whether they would lower their individual numbers for the good of the team.

A week and a half into the NBA season, the early results are impressive. The Celtics are off to a 6-0 start, their best start in 20 years. Boston's big three are all leaders. All three are used to scoring 20 points a game, Garnett is a very good defensive player and rebounder and an intimidating presence in the middle, while Allen and Pierce are scorers with great outside shots. Needless to say, if these three continue to use their talents for the team's best interests, the Celtics may well be the class of the Eastern Conference a year after finishing 24-58, the second worst record in the NBA.

The lesson here for youth sports athletes and coaches is the value of team play. Remember that the Chicago Bulls did not win any titles with Michael Jordan trying to do it all himself. It was only after he included his teammates more that the Bulls won 6 NBA titles in 8 years.

Eventually, youth sports stars will play with or against other equally talented players, and the sooner they buy into the team concept and get their teammates involved the better their team will be. No matter how good a player is, opposing defenses can usually shut him or her down if there are no other threats. As the old saying goes, there is no I in team, and the sooner star athletes understand the benefit of teamwork, the better players and team leaders they will be.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 11:51 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I grew up a huge baseball fan, a Philadelphia Phillie fan to be specific, and often went to bed listening to Phillie games on the radio.

I didn't go to more than one or two games a year, though, as I lived about 3 1/2 hours from Philadelphia in central Pennsylvania, so going to a game was a big deal.

Now I work almost literally in the shadow of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Most days during baseball season, I walk through the stadium's concourse just beyond the right field wall, which allows me a great view of the field.

I often stop for a few minutes to watch the grounds crew work on the field, or to think about what it would be like to play on that field. This pre-work walk makes me feel like a kid again, and is my own personal field of dreams.

In many ways, this weekday ritual is a trip down memory lane. The oversized retired numbers of Oriole greats like Cal Ripken, Jim Palmer and Eddie Murray, the statue of Babe Ruth, who was born less than a block from the stadium, the memories of games attended long ago with my father, my baseball card collection and my days as a Little League shortstop.

It's hard to think of a better way to start my day.  

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:09 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is one of a kind. In a profession where job security is fleeting, he's been the Nittany Lions head coach for an amazing 41 years, and at age 80 doesn't appear to be slowing down -- or considering retirement.

What makes Paterno so special is what he's accomplished both on and off the field. His Penn State teams have won two national championships and an amazing 363 games, the second most of any Division I head coach in history. He has also won a record 22 bowl games.

His teams on-field success, though, is just part of what makes Paterno unique. He believes in the term student athlete, and expects his players to go to class -- they usually sit in the first few rows -- and to graduate. In fact, over the past five years, Penn State's football team's graduation rate, as measured by the NCAA, was the highest in the nation three times. He knows full well that few of his players will reach the NFL, and that his main job is to prepare his players for life.

He also does things the right way. In an age when most top football programs have been under NCAA probation or received penalties for things such as recruiting violations, paying players, having undue influence from boosters and other various misdeeds, Penn State has not had any such problems during Paterno's tenure.

He has raised -- and donated -- millions of dollars for the Penn State library, and has used his influence after winning his first national title to challenge the Penn State Board of Trustees to make the university No. 1 in academics as well as athletics. Can you imagine other coaches doing this?

During my five years at Penn State in the mid-1980s I got to see Paterno up close while covering the team. Much like with his team, Paterno expected reporters to be prepared, be on time, work hard and to represent the university well, lessons that I've carried with me since that time.

The next time you're watching a Penn State football game with your kids, let them know about the person referred to as JoePa by fans and media alike. His off-field accomplishments should be shared as an example of the positive role a coach can have on his players, the university and the sport. We're not likely to see anyone of his kind again. 

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 06:13 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

When I was growing up, my favorite baseball player was Pete Rose. I loved the way he played -- running to first on walks, barreling into opponents when sliding to break up the double play or separate the catcher from the ball and seemingly always getting the key hit.

My favorite current major leaguer is Seattle Mariners' outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Known simply as Ichiro, he's far and away the best hitter in the game today. He is the only major leaguer to get 200 or more hits in his first six seasons, including a record 262 hits in 2004.

It's not only that he gets hits, but the way he gets them that makes him my favorite player to watch. Ichiro has a lot of power, as he frequenly demonstrates in batting practice, but he hits relatively few homers in games, focusing instead on hitting line drives to take advantage of his great speed to get on base for his teammates. No one is quicker from home to first base, and the number of infield hits he gets is amazing.

Ichiro is also a great fielder -- as evidenced by his six gold gloves in as many seasons -- and base stealer, as he's annually near the league lead in that category. He also is not someone who seeks the spotlight, which is rare in today's me-focused world.

Despite his statistics, Ichiro flies under the radar because of his low profile, which is just fine with him. To me, he's the most exciting player in the game, and his inside-the-park home run at this year's All-Star Game is an example of why.

In short, Ichiro plays the game the right way, gets the most out of his ability and humbly goes about his work every day without drawing attention to himself. How many other players in today's game can you say that about? Wen it comes to baseball role models, they don't come much better than Ichiro.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

To me, there's nothing more enjoyable about baseball than looking at the box scores in the morning newspaper.

When growing up more than 30 years ago, there was no ESPN, and only one nationally televised game a week. So I learned to love baseball primarily by combing the box scores.

While I grew up a Phillie and Yankee fan, I spent time reviewing all the box scores in an effort to learn as much about the players and teams as I could. The beauty of box scores is that they provide tons of information about the games in a completely neutral way with no spin or commentary. After all, a player can make any excuse he wants, but the box score numbers don't lie.

Home runs, hits and runs batted in may be the offensive statistics that receive all the press, but in box scores these are no more important or emphasized than walks, stolen bases, sacrifices or other numbers that help to complete a player's or a team's statistical picture, and their success or failure.

I actually really enjoy going a few days without having any baseball news, only to delve into the box scores to see what I missed. For all the changes in baseball over the years, the box score has remained pretty much the same, and for that I'm glad.

If your kids are interested in baseball, encourage them to check out the box scores to see how their favorite players or teams are doing. It's likely to increase the amount of baseball discussion around the breakfast table, which to my way of thinking is a good thing.  

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 05:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

One of the most fun sports debates is who is the best player ever in a specific sport. And while it may be a little premature to say that Tiger Woods and Roger Federer are the best male golfer and tennis player of all time, they are dominating their sports in ways few have ever done.

Woods has won the last seven PGA tournaments he's entered. Think about that. Most weeks he's one of 156 pros in the field, all of whom could conceivably win. Woods, though, always seems to play his best in the final round when the tournament is on the line, making the shots and putts he needs to to finish on top.

Federer's win in the Australian Open was his 36th straight match win, an amazing mark of consistency in tournaments played in different countries and on different court surfaces. The Australian Open win was his 10th major championship title in his career, and he's won six of the last seven. What's more, he didn't lose a set in seven Australian Open matches, the first time a player has not lost a set in a major since 1980.

When Woods and Federer are in the field, many players feel like they are playing for second. Top ranked golfers and tennis players have said as much. Despite their tremendous success, and the money and fame that come with that, Woods and Federer are clearly interested in nothing but winning. The way they rise to the challenge and play their best when the tournament or match is on the line is the clearest indication of their greatness.

They are also both good winners. They don't showboat, talk trash or celebrate excessively. They just go about their work with a single-minded determination that is evident by watching them. The word class comes to mind. Combine that with a great work ethic and loads of natural athletic talent, and you've got almost an unbeatable combination.

Just ask their competition. These amazing streaks won't last forever, so don't miss the opportunity to watch these two stars in their prime. It may be some time before we see the likes of them again.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 11:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I'm talking about Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, who has won the last two NBA Most Valuable Player awards, and if anything he's been even better this season. Nash is not flashy, but he does what great point guards do -- he runs the show and makes his teammates better.

Nash is a great ballhandler, passer and shooter. He can both shoot the three pointer -- he's making more than 50 percent of his attempts this season -- and beat his man off the dribble and drive to the basket. Nash, though, often thinks pass first to get his teammates involved. He seems to know what his team needs him to do most and does it.

His stats -- he's averaging 19.5 points and 11 assists per game -- are amazing, but the most impressive statistic is that he's led Phoenix to 17 straight wins. That's the fifth longest streak in NBA history, and a tribute to Nash's steady consistency. 

Most guys, even NBA all-stars, have off nights, but that rarely happens with Nash. What he lacks in elevation and showy dunks he makes up for with substance. Everything he does is fundamentally sound, and you can see how hard he's worked to become as good as he is. He's a joy to watch, and is a great role model for kids at any level of the game -- for his actions both on and off the court.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)